“My girlhood among the outlaws was salty, bittersweet
The things I did I could just kick myself now”
–Maria McKee, 1993

If you’re like me, you’ve often said to yourself, “Wouldn’t it be nice if someone put together a 40-45 minute documentary on early Lone Justice? You know, before the band was engulfed by mediocrity and their souls cannibalized by music industry tiger sharks?” Of course you did. Well, you’re in luck because I did just that. Granted, it’s an audio documentary, but the upside is you can download it to your ipod, blackberry, or straight into your exoskeleton. Convenience, thy name is A. Lounge.

This doc is the result of an intense three-week archaeological dig. I unearthed a Lone Justice radio appearance, TV spots, demos, outtakes, and several live shows. I combined those with a few officially released cuts to give longtime fans and LJ newbies a chance to hear the band at their best: A kickass country combo that put a little punk in their rock and absolutely brimmed with potential.

“This business tears right at your soul;
Music used to mean so much to me,
It don’t meant that much to me no more.”
Bob Forrest, “Lookin’ To The West,” 1987

Listening to these radio excerpts, it seems like the qualities that made the band such an engaging interview — charming, hopeful, endlessly positive — are the same qualities that made them industry shark bait. Fact is, once the high rollers got their hooks in 19-year-old (!) Maria McKee, it was game over. She was too talented, too beautiful, too naive, too everything not to fuck up. Maybe if she grew up in Seattle, Minneapolis, or southeast Georgia (i.e. not LA) she and the band could’ve spent a few years paying their dues and possibly emerging as R.E.M. type figures. Alas, it was not to be.

To fully appreciate the phenomenon that was Lone Justice, you have to see them hold an audience in their twangy grasp, Maria bringing down the house with full-throated gospel fervor. If you were a male between the ages of 0 and Methuselah, how could you not love Maria McKee??? A young, hot, spitfire, like Wanda Jackson by way of Exene Cervenka. Yeah, who could possibly enjoy that?

Pay particular attention to Maria’s dedication before “Nothin’ Can Stop My Lovin’ You.” It pretty much sums up this era, when one could reconcile the seemingly disparate worlds of George Jones and X and have it make complete sense.

31 comments on “Lone Justice and the Workin’ Man Blues: 1983-85”

I loved their debut album. I think I bought it shortly after seeing them open up for U2 at Cobo Hall in Detroit. It (along with Dwight Yoakam's debut) really helped turn me onto the path of becoming a hardcore country music fan.

I still love the debut, but I feel sorry for Don Heffington. The '80s production squashes the drum sound flat. You listen to “Wait 'Til We Get Home” and wonder why they just didn't bring in a damn drum machine??? That the songs have pretty much stood the test of time says a lot.

I think Maria is living in France. She's totally under the radar, by choice, yet released 5 albums between 2003-07. It was by far the most prolific stretch of her career. Nothing since.

Unfortunately, I'm not crazy about these records. They're not terrible or anything, but moody baroque pop music isn't a real go-to genre for me. 2-3 songs can be a nice change of pace, but beyond that it's venturing into drama queen territory.

And I share your ambivalence towards them. If she's gonna go theatrical, I wish she'd go full-on like with Life is Sweet, rather than the minimally arranged things on the last few records. Her husband's contributions don't help much either. She'd be better off with someone forcing her to write stronger songs, in terms of verse-chorus-verse. Hooks Maria. You're missing them. That's why nothing you ever do is a hit.

great work! thoroughly enjoyed the mp3.easy to be an arm chair Qb , but after those comments at the end of the piece, re: if radio will embrace their work, i would of finished the production with “ways to be wicked.”

Funny. I experimented with about 10 different versions of the ending, finally settling on “Soap, Soup And Salvation” because I figured they could use God where they were going. But, “Ways” probably makes a little more sense. Maybe I can do a re-edit for the DVD/hologram version …

as a friend said in another group, after sharing your blog with him, he felt that there was never a great MM solo album, though personally i tend to disagree, i love, “you gotta sin to get saved”, but what he mentioned and i like the idea, maybe a dave alvin produced album – that would be cool.

now how can i get ahold of the san francisco stone show you included on the mp3? have a good one!

Hey, thanks for putting this together. Looking forward to it. I was a big LJ fan back in 83-84, and disappointed with their first album's direction. Never heard their second album, and only just recently became acquainted with Maria's later work.

I wish you had mentioned that later work in the main blog post — I think some of it surpasses Lone Justice, like “My Girlhood Among the Outlaws,” which you quoted. “Life is Sweet” (the song) and “Absolutely Barking Stars” are artistic masterpieces, IMHO. Investing in the LJ catalog — good advice, and I'd recommend investing in the MM catalog as well.

As for what she's doing now, she just recently became active on Facebook. She's living in L.A., does an occasional benefit gig with other musicians, and is working on art and a movie. In a recent interview she said she just couldn't contemplate making another album right now.

I was going to include a snippet of Maria singing “Jackson” with Rank and File from 1983. The quality is kinda crappy, though, so I backed off. But, that was a kind of breakthrough for Lone Justice at the time (Spring 1983). The feeding frenzy more or less began after that.

Agreed on Los Lobos, I'll add the Long Ryders, and while I also agree with the Beat Farmers, I'm pretty sure they were based in San Diego … not that they didn't play a shit-ton of shows in LA. Am I wrong on that?

I'm not sure cowpunk was any more or less affected than any other turn in her career. If anything, her calculated sense of theatrics and grandiose affectation is part of her appeal.

Of course, I think this is also Maria's singular drawback. Her music seems to have little room for a sense of humor. What strikes me when I hear this early Lone Justice stuff, especially the interviews, is how much fun they were having. Sure, it helps to like country music. But, naive charm and likability go a long way with me and these kids held the secret, if only briefly.

A few days ago, I was thumbing through my Blood on the Saddle records, and a thought occurred to me- whatever happened to Maria McKee, the wondergrrrl of the cowpunk scene who sang like Dolly Parton channeling Janis Joplin? Thank You! for putting this together, and whoever put the grainy clips from the Palomino on Youtube, another Thank You! is due. Love LJ,love Marie, and you are absolutely right- she and LJ were just too good and too promising for the leechy bastards in the music industry not to *uck up.

Great pieces on LJ and Maria McKee. I fall into the same age/category/level of fandom. Agree with most that her latter stuff has been on the boring side, although I do like the live acoustic album. I think some of her work with Steve Earle during one of his worst periods is interesting, and my favorite non-LJ album is “You Gotta Sin…”

Just stumbled across this after listening to Lone Justice for the first time in many years.. I vividly remember hearing them for the first time. They were so different from what was out there and Maria’s voice was phenomenal!!! Thanks so much for putting this together. It’s great. Going to check out The Blasters next.

Hi there,
I’m looking to contact Lance Davis in regards to your article about Lone Justice. I am working on a documentary film about British reggae band STEEL PULSE, who featured on the same episode of ‘The Cutting Edge’ as Lone Justice in 1984. We are searching for a copy of the episode and we were wondering where you were able to find it, and if by any chance you still have a copy?

Actually, I do not have the full episode of that Cutting Edge. I was sent the Lone Justice clip years ago — on VHS, no less! — in what was basically a compilation of LJ videos. Sorry about that. Hope you can track it down and your documentary sounds intriguing. I was most definitely a fan of Steel Pulse in that era (albums like Earth Crisis and Babylon The Bandit).

damn glad i found this link ryan graduated from torrance high 3 years b4 i did in my brothers class saw them numerous times back in the day palomino & palace & fenders etc i’m mainly writin this so if i can find somebody out there who knows all the words to drigstore cowboy ?? i want to start doin it at local open mics i already am doin cactus rose any help ? mike russell 3108729507